The 22 Best Comic Book Movies (That Aren't Marvel Or DC), According To Rotten Tomatoes

Comic book movies have experienced a wild and bumpy journey in the pop culture landscape. Initially being presented as cult or geeky films that often went without credit or fair consideration, the genre was once far less popular than it is today.

However, with the progressive efforts of titles such as Wonder Woman and Black Panther, the medium is back on the upswing. Also, the upcoming result of the infamous Thanos snap can only increase the reach of these powerhouse movies upon the release of Avengers 4.

Despite decades of ridicule and all of the ups and downs that the genre has encountered along the way, there have been plenty of well-respected, and well-received, comic book and graphic novel-based movies throughout the years.

Many of these have performed far better than a myriad of Marvel and DC titles.

This list will explore these movies, ranked by their standing in Rotten Tomatoes’ list of top performing comic book movies.

From the spandex-filled adventures of Barbarella to the melancholy social justice issues explored in Persepolis, here are The 22 Best Comic Book Movies (That Aren’t Marvel Or DC), According To Rotten Tomatoes.

22 Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life – 73%

Not every comic book movie needs to be about a superhero. Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is about the life of French singer Serge Gainsbourg.

However, it finds itself on this list thanks to the vision of comic book artist Joann Sfar, who wrote and directed the film.

Though the movie has been described as messy, it is also extremely intense and glamorous, making it worth a watch.

At 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, Gainsbourg ties with DC and Marvel’s V For Vendetta and Iron Man 2. The only DC or Marvel movie with a lower percentage than Gainsbourg is Tim Burton’s Batman.

21 Barbarella – 74%

Barbarella holds an impressive 74% on Rotten Tomates – at least according to the critics. Viewers, however, were not quite as impressed, giving it only 56%.

Still, the sci-fi flick about a woman in search of a missing scientist and sleeping her way across the galaxy has proved its staying power.

This sci-fi spoof has inspired everything from sultry interstellar uniforms (think thigh high boots and high leg cut-outs) to 1980s band names (Duran Duran).

20 Chicken With Plums – 74%

An ailing man relives his life’s journey, Ebenezer Scrooge-style, in Chicken With Plums, an enchanting tale of love and art.

As a musician’s health wanes, he dreams of his past, having conversations with deities, witnessing his children’s’ future, and discovering the impetus behind his work: a past relationship that helped shape his entire life.

At 74%, Chicken With Plums sits higher in the rankings than Tim Burton’s Batman, Iron Man 2, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

Described as both whimsical and melancholy, this sweet movie received almost as good a score from the viewers, being voted at 71%.

19 The Adventures Of Tintin – 74%

The Adventures of Tintin centers on a journalist traveling the world and experiencing grand adventures in his attempt to discover great stories.

It is a story by The Cornetto Trilogy’s Edgar Wright. It also has an adorable, fluffy white dog in it, so what’s not to like about Steven Spielberg’s motion-captured adaptation of The Adventures of Tintin?

The movie is a rare example of critics and the audience being perfectly in sync, as both gave the movie a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Overall, The Adventures of Tintin sits higher on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of top-rated comic book and graphic novel movies than Batman, Iron Man 2, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

18 Over The Hedge – 75%

What do you get when you take an online comic strip and throw in a little Bruce Willis, some Steve Carell, and a bunch of fluffy animals? You get Over the Hedge, which earned a respectable 75% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

The story of a ragtag team of wild animals looking to get – quite literally – over the hedge in an attempt to pilfer processed foods from a fancy home earned strong ratings and positive acclaim for its stellar voice cast and upbeat comedy.

Over the Hedge has been rated higher than Batman, Iron Man 2, and The Amazing Spider-Man.

17 The Mask – 77%

The Mask allowed Jim Carrey to do what Jim Carrey does best: pull a bunch of zany, overly exaggerated faces while making silly voices and tossing out catchphrases.

In his comedic heyday, that’s what the majority of his movies were built on, and it was a foundation that moviegoers were more than happy to indulge in.

Following the story of a banker who finds a mystical mask that prompts said facial contortions, the movie received 77% on the Rotten Tomatoes list of comic book movies.

This is higher than Batman, Iron Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man, Superman Returns, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger.

16 Sin City – 77%

Sin City is a black and white gritty film noir drama with a cast of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Was there ever any chance that Sin City wouldn’t become a massive hit?

The patchwork movie featuring a host of rough-and-tumble characters and their lives in a brutal town was well-received by critics, sitting at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Surprisingly, moviegoers were even more receptive to the film, voting it higher and giving it 78%.

15 Dredd – 78%

As a post-apocalyptic movie about a futuristic law enforcement officer ridding a ragtag society of a harmful and highly addictive chemical, Dredd hits all the typical comic book tropes.

However, it’s the film’s sense of humor and ability to poke fun at itself that cemented Karl Urban’s Judge firmly in the memories of moviegoers.

Rated at 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, Dredd lands higher on the list than Batman, Iron Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man, Superman Returns, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger.

No wonder the movie went on to spawn a TV series reboot.

14 Addams Family Values – 78%

Who doesn’t love Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams in Addams Family Values? Nobody, that’s who – and the evidence is in the movie’s high standing on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of best comic book and graphic novel-based movies.

The story follows a kooky gothic family and their exploits in normal society.

The movie, which specifically centers on what should have been a carefree summer vacation that goes awry like only an Addams family get-together can, sits at 78% on Rotten Toamtoes.

This is higher than many DC and Marvel movies, such as Batman, Iron Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man, Superman Returns, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger.

13 Old Boy – 80%

Another example of viewers loving the movie even more than the critics is Oldboy, which received an 80% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes but earned an incredibly respectable audience score of 94%.

This tale of love, loss, and violent revenge doesn’t sound like the sort of movie that mass audiences would go nuts for, as it follows a man who is wasting 15 years in prison away from his family.

Overall, it doesn’t seem more entertaining than flying gods with capes and hammers.

However, Old Boy currently sits higher than Batman, Iron Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man, Superman Returns, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger on Rotten Tomatoes.

12 The Crow – 81%

Both the stories in, and behind, The Crow are incredibly sad. The movie focuses on a young talent who is ripped from the world too soon, becoming infamous only after their early demise.

There are at least a few similarities between the movie and real life, though Brandon Lee’s infamy was in the form of enduring stardom, while the character he portrayed, fictional rock star Eric Draven, became a fearsome vigilante on the hunt for revenge.

The Crow raked in a score of 81% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it received an even more impressive score of 90% from the audience.

11 Hellboy – 81%

Hellboy has been a favorite cult superhero movie for years now – and that marketability is only bound to go up now that beloved Stranger Things actor David Harbour is attached to the role in the upcoming reboot.

Unfortunately, critics loved the story of a demon battling evil more than the audience did.

Hellboy features a critical rating of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience offered up only 65%.

10 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – 82%

Written by Edgar Wright and starring a host of beloved indie actors like Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Cera, Aubrey Plaza, and Kieran Culkin, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was loved with nearly the same intensity by both critics and fans.

Critics gave the movie a score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience topped that with 83%.

Following Pilgrim as he battles his dream girl’s seven evil exes, the story could sometimes be spotty, but the visuals were vibrant and audiences agree that the movie was a fun ride overall.

7 Akira – 87%

The year 1988’s Akira features a post-apocalyptic setting, a teenage boy with superpowers, as well as the threat that the world will end. Akira had everything that a good anime should, which is likely why it’s been so influential over the years.

This vibrant movie earned a solid 87% on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of best comic book and graphic novel-based movies.

Audiences enjoyed the movie so much that they gave the movie a higher score of 90%.